AJ's thoughts

[DoS Archive]

From: ajaybird2@aol.com (AJaybird2)
Date: 18 Oct 1998 00:15:11 EDT

Members o' the Council and the DoS Community,
I 'ave read, reread, and thrice now again, 'ave read your comments and opinions concerning the issue(s) brought before the council. It would not be truthful of me to say that I 'ave not gone back and forth on what to do, but in the spirit of "fairness" as "I see it" and if I would 'ave been required to cast m' vote, I would 'ave cast m' vote for a rescheduling of the challenge to Dalamar from Huma. So that all will be clear as to my vote
on the matter, I would 'ave voted for option "C".
For those of you interested in why I would 'ave voted the way I would 'ave, I shall try to explain. The undisputed facts are as follows........ Dalamar failed to be present at the mutually agreed upon time(and some 40 minutes later) to defend his right to continue as our Overlord. Huma, on the other hand, was present at the agreed upon time and ready to press forward with his challenge. If I were to only look at those 2 things to arrive
at a decision then I would have voted that Dalamar forfeit his crown, period, end o' story. However, life hath taught me that not all things can be categorized as either black or white.
By the way, to those of you that constantly label the loyal barons of Dalamar as "his lapdogs" don't nearly know as much about this baron as they would like to think. I, for one, 'ave always done things......voted on issues, and made decisions on m' own accord by following m' conscience and listening to m' heart. Yes, I am sure I 'ave made m' fair share of poor decisions, but remember, they were MY decisions and I would appreciate it if you
would refrain from the labeling this Loyalist unjustly. That was a long time in coming and I apologize for digressing.
Anyways, I was saying that I try not to look at issues in only black and white and look toward the grays, as I like to call 'em, to find that which usually makes a clearer picture. The gray area to me is, why Dalamar failed to show up for his match? The answer provided was that he was dealing with the events surrounding the passing of his father from this life to the next. Should I disregard this? Should I not show compassion? Do I say,
"Well, tough tanning hides......you know the rules and you should 'ave just sucked it up and put all that other stuff to the side?" I believe the answers are quite obvious. On the other hand, seeing that Dal didn't make it to his challenge, am I to totally obsolve him of his responsibility to face Huma? Does he get a *free pass*? No, I say. He has an obligation to face the Warlord and defend his right to continue being the Overlord even if it
needs rescheduling.
Then, we have the other side o' the equation with Huma. Do I now look at Huma and tell him that for the most part, he did everything correctly but because Dal's father died and Dal was needed elsewhere, I've decided the burden of defending should be lifted and to insure it, have Huma stripped o' his peer wins or have his challenge revoked? Is that fair for me to do? Am I now to decide for others who they should challenge and under what
circumstances to do so? Once again, I think these answers are quiet obvious.
Now, we 'ave the issue of Jeff and Huma and the *Duel of Honor*. The two made an agreement and Huma reneged on it. This to me was a dishonorable thing to do on Huma's part and has pained m' tremendously. I've lost respect for Huma. I now view him in a different light then before because of this, and I feel that if he were to become Overlord based on his dueling abilities I wouldn't be able to support him because he had broken an oath. I
looked at that duel between Huma and Jeff as a gentlemen's agreement with no other legal binding ramifications and I don't think it should 'ave anything to do with wether or not the Warlord is to 'ave conclusion brought to his challenge to Dal. As far as Jeff, he hath been wronged. This I can do nothing about with clear conscience except to let Baron Oaknshield know that he has m' utmost respect and that I find him to be a very, very honorable
dwarf. His heart remained true and in the right place and he laid it on the line for the Overlord that he's pledged his loyalty to. I believe the dwarf to be true to his word and that he would have resigned as Baron if he would have been defeated. It's just in m' opinion the match still has nothing to do with the challenge to Dal from Huma since the challenge was in forfeit before Jeff's and Huma's match took place.
These are m' thoughts that I felt I needed to share, so that all may know where I stand even if m' thoughts may not 'ave any bearing on the voting which is in progress.


Respectfully,

Baron AJ Bird
Defender of the 2nd Ring
Loyal Baron to Dalamar
*!*

[DoS Archive]

From: scarltduke@aol.com (ScarltDuke)
Date: 18 Oct 1998 01:07:56 EDT

>>Do I say,
"Well, tough tanning hides......you know the rules and you should 'ave just sucked it up and put all that other stuff to the side?" I believe the answers are quite obvious.<<

Aye, obvious it is. The ansewer is yes.

[DoS Archive]

From: avhienda@aol.com (Avhienda)
Date: 18 Oct 1998 02:02:07 EDT


Sir Duke,
I wonder at your words. If one of your parents died and your boss told you that you had to *suck it up* and work anyway, would you? It is the same in this situation with the Overlord. There are some circumstances when we just have to take care of personal affairs, even if it means some people think that we are shirking our responsibilities to do so. He had a legitimate excuse for not showing for the match. If it had just slipped his mind, or
the like, then that would be different, but his father had just died, and he had to be there.

With Respect,
Avhienda

[DoS Archive]

From: quickvarmg@aol.com (QuickVarMG)
Date: 18 Oct 1998 03:44:45 EDT

>Sir Duke,
> I wonder at your words. If one of your parents died and your boss told
>you that you had to *suck it up* and work anyway, would you? It is the same
>in this situation with the Overlord. There are some circumstances when we
>just have to take care of personal affairs, even if it means some people
>think that we are shirking our responsibilities to do so. He had a legitimate
>excuse for not showing for the match. If it had just slipped his mind, or
>the like, then that would be different, but his father had just died, and he
>had to be there.
>
>With Respect,
>Avhienda

I do not believe the person should be relieved of having to work ever again, and still get paid.
Thus, taking a break would be a fair decision, but in time, don't you think the person would sooner or later start working again?
This is not the reason I felt a rematch was fair, because I never thought about it until it was just brought up. I had other reasons stated, as you may have read.


Simply,
Var Medici-Giovanni
±
|¯Proud father, proud husband¯|
|¯Holder of the Tenth Ring¯|
|¯Soul dedicated to Noelle¯|
|¯Devoted to his children¯|

[DoS Archive]

From: scarltduke@aol.com (ScarltDuke)
Date: 18 Oct 1998 14:37:02 EDT

My parents have already died, yet I still had duties to attend, life still needed living. I went to the buriel, yes. But to choke with my father as died of some illness that came with old age was not needed. If Dalamar Ar'Daumon, Overlord of the Duel of Swords, defender of the crown numerous times had to go to his sick father, it was in his duties to leave notice of warning before the event occurred. Since he did not, he
must accept the consequences of his choice. He believed that his fathers death was more important that the crown which he holds.

And a rematch is not unfair Var, if you believe he should be given time off for it, let them fight in a few weeks. If Dalamar is not fit to fight by then, then stripped he should be of the crown as one without the ability to allow the duel of swords to contiune it's progress.

Is this comprehendable? And aye, tough tanning hide is it bestly put.

~Adin Skeltonis

[DoS Archive]

From: rixfavre@aol.com (Rix Favre)
Date: 18 Oct 1998 14:45:52 EDT

If my father was dying, the last thing I would think about is finding a piece of paper, then a pen with some ink, taking the time to write out that my father is dying, finding a messenger, sending him off just hoping he knows the way, then going to my father's side.

It takes time to send notices around here. It's not like we have a magical system where you can write the letter, send it off, and instantly have it in the hands of the people you sent it to. Most of us, anyways. Remember that.

-Rix

[DoS Archive]

From: girvin@aol.com (GIRVIN)
Date: 18 Oct 1998 20:57:12 EDT

Any man that would place a simple contest above grieving for a lost parent not only lacks honor, but basic human compassion and decency.

If you do not like it, I do not care.


~Brian